It seems like Intel Foundry has become a heated topic in the industry, and in all that frenzy, it is now said that the division has managed a massive breakthrough with its 18A process.
Intel's Panther Lake Uncore Elements Are Now Functional, However, Cougar Cove Performance Is Said To Be Average
The IFS hasn't had the best of times, especially in the previous quarters, since the division reported underwhelming performance, which became one of the primary reasons the former CEO Pat Gelsinger stepped down. To top it all off, reports started to emerge that Intel's 18A customers weren't satisfied with the yield rates at all, forcing them to cancel major orders, and this ultimately created a "domino effect" on Intel Foundry. Now, according to a leaker at Weibo, Intel's 18A process has shown optimistic performance with Panther Lake SoCs.
The leaker claims that Intel's Panther Lake uncore elements, which include memory controllers, I/O interfaces, and the onboard interconnect, are finally functional. While the tested sample would likely be in A0 stepping, which is said to be the first test run of the CPUs, it is certainly great to see 18A alive and running since this process is known as one of the key factors behind the revival of Intel Foundry, and taking the semiconductor glory back to the US.
However, the one important thing to talk about here is that the leaker has categorized Panther Lake's P-Cores, "Cougar Cove," as something "average," likely indicating that PTL performance wouldn't be as dominant as mentioned in the past. However, it is important to take these statements with a grain of salt, since nothing is official for now, and details around Panther Lake are pretty confined.
For now, Intel's 18A process will be represented by the upcoming Panther Lake SoCs, which are said to be scheduled for a late 2025 launch. It was previously said that Intel's partners had already been testing out Panther Lake, and they expressed excitement about it. While we won't discuss Panther Lake in detail, it is expected that the first batch of SKUs will likely be in the mobile segment, featuring the "H" models.
We recently discussed how the Trump administration is inclined toward restoring Intel's dominance over the chip markets. If 18A manages to deliver down on expectations, it could prove to be a massive breakthrough, as it would fuel the US government to contribute more to Intel's stance in the markets.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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